BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University men's basketball team is set to open Southland Conference play Thursday, in one of its earliest starts to league play in program history. The Cardinals (2-5) will travel to Corpus Christi, Texas Thursday to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi followed by a drive over to Edinburg, Texas two days later to square off against league newcomer, UT Rio Grande Valley.
 
The unique start to conference play, which occurred due to Stephen F. Austin and UTRGV joining the league this past summer, will be an odd stretch for the Red and White as they will play two league games only to return to non-conference play for the remainder of the month (four games, three on the road).
 
A&M-Corpus Christi (5-3) is playing its best basketball of the season rolling into the conference opener. The Islanders have won four straight after a 1-3 start to the year. Unlike the Cardinals, who are in the midst of their longest road stretch of the season, A&M-Corpus Christi is in the midst of stretch where they are playing seven straight (and eight of nine) at home. The Islanders are 5-0 on their home court this season. Thursday's game is set for a 7 p.m. tip off from the Dugan Wellness Center.
 
Similar to the Islanders, UT Rio Grande Valley is also playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Vaqueros are 4-3 (.571) overall and have won four of their last five contests, with the lone loss being a three-point setback at No. 19 Wisconsin. UTRGV will host Stephen F. Austin Thursday before hosting Lamar. Saturday's contest will tip off at 4:30 p.m. from the UTRGV Fieldhouse.
   
 LU vs. the Islanders
The series between Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Lamar dates back to the 1954-55 season with the Cardinals holding a 24-15 (.615) advantage. Thursday's meeting will be 70 years - almost to the day - of the inaugural meeting between the two programs (Dec. 4, 1954). Lamar has had its fair share of success on the road in the series owning a 10-8 (.556) record in Corpus Christi, but the Islanders have had the upper hand lately. A&M-Corpus Christi has won three straight and four of the past five.
 
LU vs. the Vaqueros
Having met 77 times on the basketball court, the series between UT Rio Grande Valley and Lamar is one the oldest in the record books. Originating during the 1965-66 season, the two schools are meeting for the first time since the 2021-22 season when both were members of the Western Athletic Conference. While the Cardinals hold a 42-35 (.545) lead in the series, Big Red has struggled in Edinburg. The Vaqueros are 23-13 (.639) in front of their home fans and have won four straight and seven of the previous eight meetings.
 
LU in SLC Openers
The Cardinals are 31-18 (.633) all-time in Southland Conference openers, but the Cardinals put an end to a small conference-opening skid last season when they defeated Northwestern State in Beaumont. Thursday's contest marks the first time since the 2011-12 season that Lamar has opened the conference schedule against the Islanders (LU won that game 74-58).
 
LU in December
Lamar is 300-228 (.568) all-time in the month of December and has posted better than a .500 record in the month 43 times. The Cardinals have notched a perfect record in the month four times. The Cardinals' December record jumps to 201-47 (.810) during home games in the year's final month.
 
Sharing the Wealth
Lamar University had five players score in double figures in the victory over Our Lady of the Lake, led by 18 points from senior Ja'Sean Jackson. In fact, every Cardinal who got in the game recorded at least one field goal. It is the second time this season, and the third since March 4th of last season (vs. Texas A&M-Commerce) that Lamar had at least five players score in double figures.
 
I'm Sorry Mr. Jackson
Senior Ja'Sean Jackson is off to arguably the best start of his career. He is currently second on the team, and 15th in the league, averaging 13.0 points per game. He is also sixth in the Southland in assists (4.0 apg) and second in steals (2.1 spg).
 
The Great Wall of Beaumont
Lamar enters the week boasting of two of the league's top five shot blockers. Senior Adam Hamilton and junior Andrew Holifield are currently tied for fifth in the Southland with eight blocks (1.1 bpg).
 
The Cardinal Rule
LU has been one of the Southland Conference's more dominant teams. LU has won 53 percent of the league games and has more NCAA tournament appearances than any of the current SLC schools (6), and their five NIT berths are also tops in the league. LU had 84 players earn All-SLC honors, including 32 first-team selections. Six players were named league newcomer of the year, five SLC tournament MVPs, four SLC Players of the Year, two freshmen of the year and a defensive player of the year.